Director's Column: Raising the Bar: Education-Based Athletics

In last week’s column, I mentioned that the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) exists to regulate education-based (or interscholastic) sports for our member schools and that in addition, we must promote fair and equitable competition that’s in the best interest of our student-athletes.

Most people would probably agree with me when I say that sports play a big role in the lives of many people. When one looks at the Olympics, the World Cup, the Boston Marathon and more, he or she cannot help but realize that the influence of sports and its impact on people around the world are limitless. What many people do not know, however, is that we live in the only country in the world where athletic programs are part of schools, whether it’s on the elementary, high school or college level. Everywhere else around the globe, students attend schools for academics but compete in sports through other avenues like clubs, travel teams, camps and/or clinics with private coaches.

Education-based athletics are a crucial component of the United States’ education system because of its educational value. Based on what we know, by participating in sports, youngsters have a chance to learn, grow and develop just as they do in school. Studies indicate that, on average, students who participate in sports and activities have higher grade point averages, better attendance records, lower dropout rates and less disciplinary actions than those who do not. In fact, many of our country’s leaders credit their participation in sports for helping them become the leaders they are today.

Aside from developing sport-specific skills and tactics, by participating in athletics, young people learn essential citizenship skills and responsible social processes that help provide a lifetime of contributions to their communities. Student-athletes also learn how to commit to and help execute group goals as well as develop self-respect, manners and independent thinking skills. In short, they learn positive qualities, beliefs and fundamentals that will help and carry them through all aspects of their lives.

It is my belief that high school coaches should encourage academic achievement by their student-athletes and help them with their social development. For example, when their student-athletes need extra help or tutoring in school, they should be excused from practice to get the help they need. This type of behavior allows coaches to show their athletes that they are truly concerned about their success both on and off the field.

In addition, whenever financially possible, high schools should seek to raise the bar by increasing the number of opportunities for its students by adding new sports or teams or by increasing the size of current teams. More importantly, we must keep the educational value of our athletics at the forefront of our programs as they can have the potential to lead our student-athletes on the path to future success in whatever direction they choose in life.